House Bill No. 2751, San Antonio Retirement Health Care Fund for Firefighters and Police Officers;

(This report is from Mike Trainer, SAPD Retiree, who is very much involved with retiree issues for the benefit of all retirees. )

I promised to pass on information that concerns retired Fire and Police and their life style!

The Fire and Police Health Care and Pension Bills have met all criteria to become a State Law!

I am disappointed that the Governor did NOT sign the bills.

I’ve attached a copy of the statement issued by the Governor giving his reason for allowing the bills to become law without his signature. Please read his statement (below).

I DO NOT agree with his train of thought on local government. It is too easy for a local government to change provisions of a contract or ordinance and stack the deck against a small group like retired Fire and Police. The smaller the group the easier it is to make changes without opposition.

If you disagree just ask one of the approximately 300 members of the Fire and Police Pre-1989 Group! Just ask one of them about their status within the ranks of the City retired employees. State and Federal Laws are needed to protect our benefits. If for no other reason, it takes more effort to change a State or Federal Law.

If local government always acts in a responsible manner toward their active and retired employees then why do we have Federal and State Laws protecting us from racial, religious and other discriminations in the work place? Why do we have laws protecting our National and State Guard members when they return to their jobs after protecting the Freedoms and Personal Rights we all enjoy! If local government was ALWAYS responsible and fair none of these laws would be needed but they are needed and so we also need State Law protection for our benefits.

I am thankful that our Bills have passed! Now all the information you have been receiving about your Health Care and Pension improvements can now be realized. It is now a fact not an opinion! I thank all the individuals from the City, Fire and Police that worked so hard to get these Legislative Bills into LAW!

If you have questions please contact either the Fire and Police Health Care Office at 210-220-1385 or the Fire and Police Pension Fund at 210-534-3262. This will insure you get the correct answer the first time!

Thanks,

Michael Trainer

210-787-4360 or 210-262-3051

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Texas Governor Rick Perry - Message - June 15, 2007 Page 1of 1

Message - June 15, 2007

I am allowing the following bills related to local retirement systems to become law without my signature:

House Bill No. 1318, Austin Police Retirement System;

House Bill No. 2751, San Antonio Retirement Health Care Fund for Firefighters and Police Officers;

House Bill No. 2752, San Antonio Firefighter and Police Retirement Fund;

House Bill No. 2870, City of Fort Worth Municipal Retirement System;

House Bill No. 3355, El Paso Fire and Policemen's Pension Fund;

Senate Bill No. 976, City of Fort Worth Municipal Retirement System; and

Senate Bill No. 1626, City of Austin Police and Firefighters Retirement.

Each of these bills changes provisions of local retirement systems, which receive no administrative support or funding from the state. Codifying or approving changes to these systems at the state level is unnecessary as the municipalities have the ability to make changes under laws that have already been passed. Local retirement systems should be managed locally without state interference.

Following the Seventy-Eighth Legislative Session, I allowed House Bill No. 752 and Senate Bill No. 1696 to become law without my signature and stated that, "The Texas legislature should get out of the business of approving local retirement benefits for cities and municipalities. It is time that local officials take responsibility for their own programs and make fiscally responsible decisions." I am disappointed that the practice of approving changes to local retirement systems continues and will not sign these bills.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this 15th day of June, 2007.

RICK PERRY

Governor of Texas

ATTESTED BY:

ROGER WILLIAMS

Secretary of State

Texas Governor Rick Perry - Message - June 15, 2007 Page 1 of 1

http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/bills/letters/fwos-hb1318 6/17/2007